If you've been exploring custom timber frame construction, chances are you've come across the term "materials shell package" on the Normerica website and wondered what it means. It's easily the most common question our team fields, and honestly, we love answering it because it gets to the heart of what makes Normerica's approach so unique.
Think of our Materials Shell Package as your home's envelope – everything you need to get your dream timber frame home weather-tight and ready for finishing. But let's break down exactly what that means and why each component matters.
Every Materials Shell Package starts with meticulously crafted building drawings. These aren't just pretty pictures – they're precision-engineered plans that serve as the roadmap for your entire build. Our design team works collaboratively with you to translate your vision into detailed architectural, structural and HVAC drawings that are ready for Building Permit submission.
The drawings package not only comprises the blueprints for building your house on site, but also the shop drawings that are used to manufacture the prefabricated components off-site in our facilities. When your timber frame arrives on-site, it will fit perfectly with your wall panels, which will align perfectly with your window and door openings. It's this level of coordination that eliminates costly surprises and delays during construction.
Our panelized wall systems are where traditional craftsmanship meets modern manufacturing precision. Each wall panel is prefabricated in our quality-controlled factory using advanced robotics and CNC technology. This means your walls pre-framed and ready for installation.
But here's what makes them special: these aren't cookie-cutter panels. Each one is custom-manufactured based on your specific design, incorporating your chosen insulation values, electrical rough-ins, and even accommodating unique architectural features like curved walls or specialized openings.
This is where Normerica really shines. Our prefabricated and factory-finished timber frame isn't just structural – it's the stunning visual centerpiece of your home. Each timber is precisely cut using our advanced CNC machinery, ensuring joints fit together with millimeter accuracy.
The "factory-finished" aspect means your timbers arrive with their final appearance already complete, whether that's natural wood tones, custom staining, or specialty finishes. No need to worry about matching stain colors on-site or dealing with finishing inconsistencies – your timber frame looks exactly as intended from day one.
Your windows and doors are more than just openings – they're your home's connection to the world around it. That's why our Materials Shell Package includes premium windows and doors that are carefully selected to complement your design while meeting performance requirements for your climate.
We coordinate the sizing, placement, and specifications of every window and door with your overall design, ensuring energy efficiency, aesthetic harmony, and long-term durability.
The exterior siding is your home's first impression and initial layer of weather protection. Our sophisticated exterior siding solutions encompass a wide range of materials and styles, from traditional wood siding to modern metal panels or stone veneer systems.
What's included depends on your design choices, but every siding system is selected and reflected in your drawings to work with your specific timber frame design, local climate conditions, and architectural style. The result is an exterior that not only looks stunning but provides lasting protection for your investment.
Your Normerica Materials Shell Package represents everything you need to create your home's structural foundation and building envelope, all designed to work together as a cohesive system. It's the complete architectural foundation of your vision, delivered with the precision and quality that only comes from our decades of experience and our advanced manufacturing capabilities.
When our delivery trucks arrive at your job site, you're not just getting materials – you're getting a complete building system that's been engineered, manufactured, and coordinated specifically for your project. That's the Normerica difference, and that's what our team is excited to explain every time someone asks, "What exactly is included in your Materials Shell Package?"